Chaminda Wijekoon returns to the Sri Lanka team…

Veteran middle distance runner, Chaminda Wijekoon returns to the Sri Lanka team after a lapse of three years for the forthcoming Asian Athletics Championship to be held from 3 to 7 June in Wuhan China.
Wijekoon, 34 last represented Sri Lanka back in 2012 at the IAAF Grand Prix event in Holland. His recall came after clocking 14 minutes 47.22 seconds running in an unfamiliar 5000m event in the concluded National Trials. Wijekoon who is a natural 1500m specialist represented the country in the 2011 Asian Championship as well as World Championship which was the last successful year for him before his downfall started as a result of injuries, accidents and family commitments.
“This is something I targeted from the last off-season. I knew I wasn’t yet ready to run my pet event as well as I did back then (2011), and in my training I knew that 5000m could be my event for this year; hence, I chose this event at the selection trials” said Wijekoon in an interview with Ceylon Today.
Wijekoon produced a silver medal in the 2009 Asian Championship held in China and another bronze in the 2011 Asian Championship. Wijekoon then represented Sri Lanka in the IAAF World Championship 2011 where he clocked his personal best 3: 39.61 seconds which is the Sri Lanka record for the event now. Wijekoon also set a Sri Lanka record in 3000m as well.
“5000m is a slightly difficult event; my target is to go below 14 minutes 30 seconds” said Wijekoon.
Even though Wijekoon competed in the 5000m, he said his ultimate target is to return to the 1500m with a good performance and run below 3: 40.
“Now I’m working on a long term plan , my goal is to be at my best in four years for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and produce a medal there” said Wijekoon who finished fourth after a hard fought race in the 2010 Common wealth Games 1500m.
Meanwhile, St. Joseph’s BV sprinter Rumeshika Rathnayake who clocked an impressive 11.8 seconds in the 100m, 1500m runner KS Somawardana, relay team members, Shehan Ambepitiya, Mohammad Rajaskhan and Mohammad Ashroff have been included in the team for the Asian Championship after their appeals.
Deserving athlete, Hasith Nirmal who won both 400m hurdles as well as 110 m hurdles will miss out while female 400m hurdler ND Wickramasinghe who clocked an unimpressive 1 minute 01.46 second has been included in the team.
Along with Rathnayake, there are two other school athletes in the team Himasha Eashan (100m) and Vidusha Lakshani (triple Jump).
The list has been forwarded for the approval of Sports Minister Navin Dissanayaka.